USMNT’s messy January camp ends with scoreless draw vs. Colombia
CARSON, Calif. — The U.S. men’s national team closed out January camp Saturday with a scoreless draw versus Colombia in a bodily recreation that didn’t function many probabilities for both aspect. Listed here are some takeaways from the match.
What’s subsequent for USMNT?
Effectively, the reply is no one is aware of. Not even the USA Soccer Federation. The Gregg Berhalter investigation is already one ache level, however add the exits of general manager Brian McBride and sporting director Earnie Stewart and we’ve got an entire mess. What is evident is that interim coach Anthony Hudson will proceed to be in cost as issues transfer ahead. The CONCACAF Nations League is barely two months away, and issues occur shortly. The development of that participant pool shall be one thing to observe for amid any information coming from management positions. Hate it or adore it, Hudson is asking the photographs till additional discover.
Heavy MLS affect
13 of the mixed starters in Saturday’s pleasant presently play in Main League Soccer. 4 of these had been on the Colombian aspect with the remaining representing the USMNT.
For January camp it is smart, particularly contemplating that is Colombia’s solely recreation — utilizing stateside gamers simply appears simpler. And apart from Juan Camilo “Cucho” Hernandez and perhaps Cristian “Chicho” Arango, I wouldn’t anticipate to see many MLS gamers on a Colombia roster when it’s loaded. However there’s something to be mentioned that maybe their finest participant on the night time was Dylan Borrero, who’s a midfielder for the New England Revolution.
On the U.S. finish, this continues to be a stage for MLS gamers to show themselves. There clearly isn’t a lot route throughout the federation for the time being, however gamers like Walker Zimmerman, Sean Johnson and Kellyn Acosta are mainstays at this level. Others like Paul Arriola and Jesus Ferreira did little to assist their case in a recreation the place each had been largely irrelevant.
If I needed to decide a participant that boosted his inventory, it’s DeJuan Jones. He performed about half-hour in Wednesday’s recreation in opposition to Serbia and went the total 90 on Saturday. Within the first half he displayed his skill to contribute to the assault, one thing Revs followers have grown to like. However within the second body he reverted to a extra solidified defensive position and did a strong job clogging up the left aspect of the assault for Colombia.
Notable ambiance
Wednesday’s USMNT recreation in opposition to Serbia was largely criticized when it comes to attendance as solely about 11,000 made the journey to BMO Discipline. However a midweek recreation in opposition to a rival like Serbia in Los Angeles was by no means going to promote many tickets.
Saturday at Dignity Well being Sports activities Park was a special story. A sold-out crowd of 27,000 was in Carson and the ambiance mirrored it. The vast majority of the group supported the guests, they usually made positive that was referred to as Colombia chants took over many instances all through the night time. The U.S. followers tried to drown out the echoes and sometimes began their very own. The vital half is that the sport felt like something however a pleasant. It was loud and feisty with just a few stoppages on account of temporary pushing and shoving. The parking tons opened 4 hour previous to kickoff and the tailgates had been in full swing all all through.
There’ll all the time be criticisms about the place the USMNT chooses to play video games and why. However as momentum shifts towards the recently announced 2024 Copa America, which shall be held within the U.S., and naturally the 2026 World Cup, a crowd like Saturday’s bodes effectively for the long run.
Don’t neglect that these two groups opened up Copa America Centenario in 2016 and packed virtually 70,000 into Levi’s Stadium up in Santa Clara, California.